ASAAA launches aftermarket parts educational effort for lawmakers

May 16, 2012—The Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) recently launched a national Legislator Education and Awareness program meant to increase recognition among state policymakers about the positive economic and consumer benefits generated by the automotive aftermarket parts and service industry.

The ASAAA said it is becoming critical for new and returning lawmakers to be educated about the benefits of alternative aftermarket replacement parts and services as policymakers in U.S. states are addressing aftermarket parts issues on many legislative fronts.

The ASAAA said its Legislator Education and Awareness program is designed to promote the importance, quality, value and availability of aftermarket replacement parts and services. The ASAAA developed a blueprint to help state associations and industry companies send unified industry messages and implement educational processes to inform state policymakers about the significance of the aftermarket parts industry to help ensure consistency and fairness in the government affairs process, and to eliminate misconceptions about the value that aftermarket replacement parts play in the American economy.

“In state Capitols nationwide, industry advocates are faced with the challenge of educating legislative bodies about the value and importance that aftermarket replacement parts and service contribute to the nation’s economy and the motoring public,” said Barbara Crest, president of ASAAA. “However, when describing aftermarket replacement parts and service, words like ‘imitation’, ‘inferior’ and ‘not of like kind and quality’ are used by our opposition to confuse policymakers and discredit our industry. ASAAA’s campaign will arm our industry advocates and company executives with information to promote and protect the industry’s interests in the legislative and regulatory processes with a consistent and unified voice.”

The ASAAA said its campaign was developed and financed by a team of industry experts, including representatives from the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), AutoZone, LKQ Corp., General Parts Inc.—CARQUEST, Genuine Parts Co.—NAPA, Advance Auto Parts, Robert Bosch Corp. and Remy Power Products.

“We are pleased of offer this program to interested state and regional associations and aftermarket companies to help strengthen the aftermarket’s government affairs presence throughout the country,” said Rodney Pierini, chairman of the ASAAA’s program committee.

The ASAAA, which was founded in 1953, is comprised of 14 regional and state associations that represent more than 10,000 automotive aftermarket parts, service and repair industry businesses. For more information visit asaaa.com.